Acoustical speaker mounting means

ABSTRACT

An acoustical speaker mounting means of diverging shape adapted to be mounted in the corner of a building room between adjacent walls and the room ceiling; the mounting means comprising an acoustically sealed chamber structure at the rear of a speaker diaphragm and a single screw fixture for mounting the chamber structure in said corner; modifications of the chamber structure and the face plate therefor, together with means for sealing the face plate to the chamber structure are also disclosed.

United States Patent [191 Goettl Nov. 13, 1973 1 ACOUSTICAL SPEAKER MOUNTING MEANS [76] Inventor: Adam D. Goettl, 4960 E. Palomino Rd., Phoenix, Ariz. 85018 22 Filed: Nov. 10, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 197,233

[52] US. Cl 181/31 B [51] Int. Cl Gl0k 13/00, H04r 1/28; [58] Field of Search 181/31 B, 31 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,955,669 10/1960 Rice 181/31 B 3,360,073 12/1967 Murry 181/31 B 3,379,276 4/1968 Gocttl 181/31 B OTHER PUBLICATIONS Publication Design for Smooth Response by Vern Yeich Audio Engineering-Jan. 1952-pp. 15, 36

Primary Examiner-Stephen J. Tomsky Attorney-William 1-1. Dean [5 7] ABSTRACT An acoustical speaker mounting means of diverging shape adapted to be mounted in the corner of a building room between adjacent walls and the room ceiling; the mounting means comprising an acoustically sealed chamber structure at the rear of a speaker diaphragm and a single screw fixture for mounting the chamber structure in said corner; modifications of the chamber structure and the face plate therefor, together with means for sealing the face plate to the chamber structure are also disclosed.

14 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEU HUY 1 3 I875 SHEET 1 or 3 INVENTOR ADAM D.GOETTL BY PATENIEDHHV 13 I915 f 3.771.621 sum 2 or a INVENTOR ADAM D. GOETTL PATENTEUHUV 13 m5 SHEET 3 GF 3 INVENTOR ADAM D. GOETT L ACOUSTICAL SPEAKER MOUNTING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various speakers have been mounted in the corners of building rooms and it has always been a problem to provide a simple means for mounting speakers in building room corners as well as to provide efficient acoustical properties-of such speaker mountings as well as economy inv the production and mounting of chambers to attain desirable acoustics. 7

It has been recognized that the normally rear side of a speaker diaphragm should be acoustically isolated and sealed inside an acoustical chamber and it has been a problem to produce and properly mount speakers in such a manner in building room corners.

SUMMARY OF'THE INVENTION Another novel feature of the invention is a resilient means such as a spring or a resilient gasket which is disposed between the head of a screw and theinner rear side of the chamber structure of the invention in order resiliently to urge the chamber structure securely into the corner of a building room.

Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide a novel acoustical speaker mounting means for mounting dynamic speakers in the corners of a building room between adjacent walls and the building room ceiling.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel -diverging sealed chamber and face plate structure The present invention comprises a novel acoustical speaker mounting means having a diverging sealed chamber provided with a face plate carrying a speaker such that the speaker diaphragm is disposed with its rear side in the sealed chamber and such that the chamber structure is secured in the corner of abuilding room adjacent to walls and the ceiling thereof by a single. screw. The sealed chamber structureof the invention diverges outwardly from thecorner and the face plate of the chamber structureis generally triangular and abuts the walls and ceiling around the corner of a building room while a central mounting screw in the rearward converging end of the sealed chamber structure is screwed into the corner of the building room and supports the entire chamber structure and face plate on which a speaker is mounted.

The invention comprises modifications wherein a re silient and compressible gasket isclamped between the large end of the chamber structure and the face plate which carriesthe speaker, and screws are utilized to connect the face plate with the largeend of the chamberstructure and to force the face plate toward the chamber structure for compressing the sealing gasket between the face plate and the large end of the chamber structure.

The invention also comprises novel, arcuate in cross section generally conical chamber structure which may be molded integral with a face plate and wherein an opening in the face plate provides access for securing a single mounting screw through the small end of the chamber structure and into the corner of the room, and the opening in the face plate of tee invention is recessed to receive a speaker flange on the outer side thereof so that the entire installation may be accomplished by working through the opening in the face plate.-

The invention also comprises a novel arrangement wherein outer edges of the triangular face plate of the invention bear outwardly beyond the side walls of the speaker chamber structure so as to isolate the generally diverging walls of the chamber structure from walls and ceiling ofa building room cornerand further, resilient isolation means around the edges of the face plate and around the fixture screw in the rear end of the chamber structure as well as gasket means around the flange of the speaker tend to provide damping means which alleviates vibratorydisturbances which occur in the acoustical speaker mountingmeans of the invention during operation.

which is mounted by means of a single screw atthe converging small end of the chamber in thecorner of the building room.

Another object of the invention is to provide resilient means in connection with a mounting screw for resil- -ient urging the small end of a diverging chamber structure into the corner of a building room.

Another object of the invention is to provide a diverging chamber structure having a small end and a large end, the large end having a face plate carrying a speaker, the small end having an opening therein through which a screw projects and whereby a screw maybe extended therethrough and into thecorner of a building room for holding the chamber structure therein; the face plate having outer edges extended beyond side walls of the chamber structure so as to abut the walls and ceiling of the building room, to thereby hold the walls of the chamber structure in spaced relation to the walls and ceiling of said building room cor.-

ner.

I Another object of the invention is to provide a diverging chamber structure for mounting speakers, the chamber structure being generally conical and having arcuate cross section so as to be relatively rigid and having a small end and a large end, the small end having a screw threaded fixture means for fixing the chamber structure in the corner of a building room adjacent the ceiling and walls thereof, the large end of the circular or arcuate in cross section chamber structure having a face plate carrying one or more speakers and the face plate being provided with outer edges adapted to engage said walls and ceiling of said building room corner.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from the following specification, appended claims and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an acoustical speaker mounting means of the invention shown in a building room corner and viewing the speaker parallel to one wall and the ceiling of a building room;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view taken from the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing an acoustical speaker mounting means of the invention in the corner of a building room;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the modification of the invention;

FIG. 5 is another fragmentary sectional view similar I to FIG. 3 but showing another modification of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 66 of FIG. showing generally circular and conical shape of the chamber structure of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 6 and show ing the cross sectional shape of a further modified form of the chamber structure of the invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 88 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the acoustical speaker mounting means of the invention embodying the chamber structure similar to that as shown" in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the acoustical speaker mounting means as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a chamber structure 10 is mounted in-a corner 12 of a buildingroom adjacent to a'ceiling 14 and walls 16 and 18.

The chamber structure'10 is provided with diverging wall structure 20 which diverges from a small end 22 to a relatively large end 24 of the chamber structure. The small end 22 is provided with an opening 24 therein and extending throughthis opening 24 is a conventional lag screw 26 which is surrounded by a coil spring 28. This coil spring 28 constitutes resilient means and an equivalent thereof may be a pad of resilient material such as rubber or the like.

The spring 28 or resilient material surrounding the lag screw 26 bears on an inner abutment side 30 of the small end 22 and a head structure 32 of the lag screw 26 bears against the spring 28 so as to apply force to the small end 22, tending to urge the chamber structure 10 in a direction of an arrow A into the corner 12.

The chamber structure is provided with a face plate 34 of generally triangular shape as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. This face plate 34 hasan upper edge 36 adapted to engage the ceiling 14 and is provided with edges 38 and 40 engaging the walls 16 and 18, respectively. Accordingly, the face plate 34 is triangular in shape. The chamber structure 10, as shown in FIG. 3

of the drawings, is provided with an open'front flanged portion 42 which is generally enclosed by the face plate 34and screws 44 extend through the face plate 34 from an outer side 46 thereof, and through a compressible gasket 48 and through a flange 50 of the chamber structure 10. This open flange 50 is integral with the side wall structure 20 and it will be seen that the edges 36, 38 and 40 project'beyond outer sidewall surfaces 52 of the chamber structure so as to bear against the ceiling l4 and the walls 16 and 18 to hold said outer surface 52 away from the respective wall and ceiling surfaces while compression of the spring 28 or other resilient means resiliently tends to hold the chamber structure securely in the corner 12.

The compressible gasket 48 acoustically seals between the face plate 34 and the large end of the chamber structure 10, said large end being disposed at said open flange structure 42.

The face plate 34 is provided with a central opening 54 communicatingwith a speaker 56 and bolts 58 mount conventionaljoutwardly extending flanges of the speaker 56 in position aligned with the opening 54'and at the rearward or inner side of the face plate 34 and within the enclosure afforded by the chamber structure 10. It will be seen that the chamber structure 10 is generally triangular, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings and the chamber structure is thus. provided with wall structure comprising a triangular assembly of sides 60,

62 and 64. t

Accordingly it will be seen that the flange structure 50 extends from all three sides 62, 64 and 66 of the wall structure 20, all as shown best in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings.

The speaker 54 is provided with a diaphragm 68 having a rear side facing the small end 22 of the chamber structure 10 and due to the gasket 48 as well as the face plate 46, the rear side of the diaphragm 68 is acoustically sealed in the chamber structure 10.

In the modification as'shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, side walls 70 of the chamber structure 10 are held in substantial contiguous relation with the walls 16 and 18, as well as .the ceiling 14, by means of a screw 72 similar to thescrew 26 hereinbefore described. This screw 72 is provided with a head portion 74 having a washer 76 bearing directly on the inner portion of a small end78'of the chamber structure 10.

A face plate 78 is similar to the'face plate 34 and carries a speaker 80 similar to the speaker 56 hereinbefore described. Screws 82 similar to the screws 44 hereinbefore described, connect the face plate 78 with the flange structure 50 of the chamber structure 10.

A compressible gasket 84, such as foam rubber or the like, is compressed between the face plate 78 and the flange structure 50 acoustically to seal between the face plate 78 and the large end of the chamber struct'ure designated 86 in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

Outer edge portions 88 of the face plate 78 are similar to the outer edges of the face plate 54 hereinbefore described.

These outer edges 88 bear against the wall 16 and 18, as well as the ceiling 12, as hereinbefore described.

I It will be seen that the structure shown in FIG. 4 is very similar to the structure shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, except that the gasket 84 is thicker and that the wall structure of the chamber structure bears against the walls and ceiling of the building room adjacent the corner 12. The screws 82'are sufficiently long to accommodate the relatively thick foam gasket 84.

In the modification as shown in FIGS of the drawings, a modified chamber structure 90 is similar to the chamber structure 10; however, the chamber structure 90 is provided with an integral face plate 92. This face plate 92 is provided with a recess 94 in the rear side 96 thereof, and edge portions 98 at the large forward end of the chamber structure 90are disposed in the groove 94 and preferably fused therein so that the face plate 92 is integral with the relatively diverging or conical structure which comprises the enclosing wall portions of the chamber structure 90.

It will be appreciated that the chamber structure 90 may be initially composed of two molded parts and may be fused together either, by solvent means or otherwise at the area of the recess portions 94 in the rear side 96 of the faceplate 92. 7

Outer edges 100 of the face plate 92 project beyon outer surfaces 102 of the diverging wall portions of the chamber structure 90. Thus, the outer edges bearing on the walls and ceiling of the building room maintain the wall portions of the chamber structure spaced from the walls and ceiling of the building room, all as shown best in FIG. 5 of the drawings.

Inthe small or rear end 104 of the chamber structure an opening 106 contains a rubber or other isolating gasket 108 which surrounds a lag screw 1 10 similar to the lag screw 26 hereinbefore described..The lag screw 110 is provided with a washer 112 adjacent a head 114 thereof and a washer 112 bears on an enlarged flange 116 of the resilient grommet such that the lag screw 111) is completely surrounded by the grommet 108 in the opening 106 and the flange portion 106 isolates the washer '1 12 and head 114 of the lag screw 110 so as to alleviate any tendency of conductive vibratory or sonic transmission from the chamber structure to the lag screw 110. v

Additionally, it will be seen that the grommet 108 cffectively and acoustically seals the interior of the chamber structure 90 at its small end 104.

The face plate 92 is provided with a central opening 118 in which a speaker 120 is mounted. This speaker 120 is similar to the speaker 56 shown in FIG. 3 and is provided with a diaphragm communicating with the interior of the chamber structure 90. This speaker 121) has a diaphragm, the rearward side 122 of whichfaces the interior of the chamber structure 90.

Surrounding the opening 118 and disposed in .a front side .124 of the face plate 92 is a flange receiving recess 126 having a soft gasket 128 therein, against which an outwardly directed flange 130 of the speaker frame is secured by means of screws 132.

A front cover 134 is disposed over the front face 124 of the face plate 92. Acoustical isolation material is disposed between the edges 100 and the respective walls and ceiling structureof the building room corner. It will be understood that these portions 36 may be of soft rubber-like material, if desired, and in the form of a gasket structure, however, thick ornamental fabric of the cover 134 may suffice to provide cushioning and to damp vibratory action of the face plate 92 relative to the walls and ceiling of the building room corner.

it will be understood that the grommet 108 may be relatively thick and resilient and may be the equivalent of the spring 28for resiliently urging the small and 104 of the chamber structure 90 into the cornerof a building room, and that in accordance with the modification shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, installationof the lag screw 110 will be accomplished through the opening 118 in the face plate 92 and that the speaker 120 will be installed subsequently against the gasket 128 in the recess 126 by means of the screws 132 which are screw threaded in the face plate 92. I

The face plate 34 and the face plate 78 are each provided with fabric covers as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, and these fabric covers are folded over or engage respective edges 40 and 88 of the face plates 34 and 78, and function in substantially the same manner as the cushioning edges 136 of the cover 134, described in connection with the disclosure of FIG. 5 of the drawrn s.

is shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, the cross sectional shape of the chamber structure 90 is circular. Thus the chamber structure 91) is preferably a conical circular in cross section structure which may be molded of plastic or the like and yet be very rigid and suitable for acoustical isolation of the speaker 120.

The modified acoustical chamber structure shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings comprises three generally arcuate in cross section chamber wall structures 140, 142 and 144, all of which intersect and are provided with a common small end 146 in which a bolt 148 similar to the bolt 110 is disposed for holding the chamber structure in the corner of a building room, similar to that as hereinbefore described.

The arcuate chamber wall structures are preferably made of rigid sheet metal and are provided with overlapping flanges and 147 which are seam welded or fused together. These wall structures are also provided with flanges 149 secured to a face plate 154 by screws 155, and a sealing gasket 157 is compressed between the flanges 149 and the face plate 154.

The chamber structure, as shown in FIG. 7, is provided with said end 146 and diverging structure 152, as shownin FIG. 8 of the drawings, and the face plate 154 is provided with a speaker opening 156 which may be aligned centrally with the chamber structure. The face plate 154 is provided with three edges 162, 164 and 166, defining the triangular shape of the face plate 154, similar to the triangular shape of the face plate structures hereinbefore described.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof.

We claim: 1. In an acoustical speaker mounting means, th combination of: a hollow chamber structure of generally diverging shape, said chamber structure having a small end and a large end, and adapted to be mounted .in a building room corner at the intersection of two walls and a ceiling; said hollow chamber structure having wall structure diverging from said small end toward said large end; said small end being enclosed and having a screw fixture receiving opening therein and having a fixture head abutment area surrounding said opening; a screw fixture having a head and extendable through said opening and adapted to fix said chamber structure in said building room corner; said chamber structure having a face plate at said large end thereof; said face plate having a speaker opening therein; a speaker mounted on said face plate at said opening and having a resonating diaphragm provided with a rear side facing inwardly toward said small end of said chamber structure, said diaphragm having a front side directed away from said small end and communicating through said speaker opening with space outside said chamber structure; said large end of said chamber structure and said face plate being acoustically sealed together to provide an acoustical enclosure at the rear side of said speaker diaphragm.

2, The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said face plate being triangular and having wall and ceiling abutting edges which project beyond the diverging sides of said chamber structure, said last mentioned edges thereby adapted to abut said ceiling and said walls and to allow said chamber structure clearance relative to said ceiling and walls when said screw fixture is tightened to pull said chamber structure into said corner.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein: a spring is disposed between said head of said screw fixture and said abutment for resiliently urging said cham ber structure into said corner.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: a compressible acoustical seal gasket is compressed between said large end of said chamber structure and said face plate; connecting screws screw threadably connecting said face plate to said chamber structure; said gasket being sealed in compressed relation between said large end of said chamber structure and said face plate by said connecting screws.

5. The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein: a spring is disposed between said head of said screw fixture and said abutment for resiliently urging said chamber structure into said corner and causing said edges of said face plate to be held resiliently against said walls and ceiling; a compressible acoustical seal gasket compressed between said large end of said chamber structure and said face plate; and connecting screws screw threadably connecting said face plate to said chamber structure; said gasket being held in sealed compressed relation between said large end of said chamber structure and said face plate by means of said connecting screws.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said face plate is integral with said large end of said chamber structure.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said face plate is provided with a speaker flange receiving recess surrounding said speaker opening; said recess being disposed in the front outer side of said face plate.

8. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said chamber structure is provided with generally conical shape of generally circular cross section.

9. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said chamber structure has generally conical shape comprising a plurality of intersecting arcuate in cross section conical portions all communicating with each other to form a common chamber.

10. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said chamber structure is provided with generally conical shape comprising three intersecting arcuate in cross section conical portions all communicating with each other to form a common chamber; said face plate being triangular and each of said three intersecting arcuate in cross section conical portions coinciding with and being disposed in alignment with the three corners of said triangular face plate.

11. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said face plate is triangular and provided with three edges adapted to abut the ceiling and two adjacent walls of a building room corner when said screw fixture forces said chamber structure into said building room corner.

12. The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein: damping means is disposed on said abutting edges of said face plate; said damping means adapted and tending dampingly to isolate vibratory action of said face plate relative to said ceiling and said walls.

13. The invention as defined in claim 6, wherein: said opening in said face plate is provided with a surrounding recess extending toward an outer front side of said face plate; a resilient gasket in said recess adapted to engage a normally rearward side of a flange structure of said speaker.

14. The invention as defined. in claim 1, wherein: a soft, resilient grommet is disposed in said screw fixture receiving opening in said small end of said chamber structure, such resilient grommet surrounding said screw fixture and having a resilient flange structure adapted abuttingly to be resiliently disposed between the abutment portion of said chamber structure sur- 1 rounding said fixture receiving opening and said head structure of said screw fixture. 

1. In an acoustical speaker mounting means, the combination of: a hollow chamber structure of generally diverging shape, said chamber structure having a small end and a large end, and adapted to be mounted in a building room corner at the intersection of two walls and a ceiling; said hollow chamber structure having wall structure diverging from said small end toward said large end; said small end being enclosed and having a screw fixture receiving opening therein and having a fixture head abutment area surrounding said opening; a screw fixture having a head and extendable through said opening and adapted to fix said chamber structure in said building room corner; said chamber structure having a face plate at said large end thereof; said face plate having a speaker opening therein; a speaker mounted on said face plate at said opening and having a resonating diaphragm provided with a rear side facing inwardly toward said small end of said chamber structure, said diaphragm having a front side directed away from said small end and communicating through said speaker opening with space outside said chamber structure; said large end of said chamber structure and said face plate being acoustically sealed together to provide an acoustical enclosure at the rear side of saId speaker diaphragm.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said face plate being triangular and having wall and ceiling abutting edges which project beyond the diverging sides of said chamber structure, said last mentioned edges thereby adapted to abut said ceiling and said walls and to allow said chamber structure clearance relative to said ceiling and walls when said screw fixture is tightened to pull said chamber structure into said corner.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein: a spring is disposed between said head of said screw fixture and said abutment for resiliently urging said chamber structure into said corner.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: a compressible acoustical seal gasket is compressed between said large end of said chamber structure and said face plate; connecting screws screw threadably connecting said face plate to said chamber structure; said gasket being sealed in compressed relation between said large end of said chamber structure and said face plate by said connecting screws.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein: a spring is disposed between said head of said screw fixture and said abutment for resiliently urging said chamber structure into said corner and causing said edges of said face plate to be held resiliently against said walls and ceiling; a compressible acoustical seal gasket compressed between said large end of said chamber structure and said face plate; and connecting screws screw threadably connecting said face plate to said chamber structure; said gasket being held in sealed compressed relation between said large end of said chamber structure and said face plate by means of said connecting screws.
 6. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said face plate is integral with said large end of said chamber structure.
 7. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said face plate is provided with a speaker flange receiving recess surrounding said speaker opening; said recess being disposed in the front outer side of said face plate.
 8. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said chamber structure is provided with generally conical shape of generally circular cross section.
 9. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said chamber structure has generally conical shape comprising a plurality of intersecting arcuate in cross section conical portions all communicating with each other to form a common chamber.
 10. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said chamber structure is provided with generally conical shape comprising three intersecting arcuate in cross section conical portions all communicating with each other to form a common chamber; said face plate being triangular and each of said three intersecting arcuate in cross section conical portions coinciding with and being disposed in alignment with the three corners of said triangular face plate.
 11. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said face plate is triangular and provided with three edges adapted to abut the ceiling and two adjacent walls of a building room corner when said screw fixture forces said chamber structure into said building room corner.
 12. The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein: damping means is disposed on said abutting edges of said face plate; said damping means adapted and tending dampingly to isolate vibratory action of said face plate relative to said ceiling and said walls.
 13. The invention as defined in claim 6, wherein: said opening in said face plate is provided with a surrounding recess extending toward an outer front side of said face plate; a resilient gasket in said recess adapted to engage a normally rearward side of a flange structure of said speaker.
 14. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: a soft, resilient grommet is disposed in said screw fixture receiving opening in said small end of said chamber structure, such resilient grommet surrounding said screw fixture and having a resilient flange structurE adapted abuttingly to be resiliently disposed between the abutment portion of said chamber structure surrounding said fixture receiving opening and said head structure of said screw fixture. 